The Jal Mahal is an awe-inspiring palace housed in the heart of the Man Sagar Lake. The breathtaking sight of the mighty palace standing tall right in the middle of a water body is what attracts thousands of tourists. The lake is surrounded by mountains forming a part of the Aravalli Range and it looks exquisitely marvellous.
There is not much evidence of the history of this place, but it is speculated to be built around 300 years back under the rule of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The palace is a living proof of the brilliant architectural excellence of ancient India. It appears to be a single storied building, but most of the people are unaware of the fact that the palace has four more levels which remain submerged under water and are not visible to the eye.
The visible part consists of a majestic pavilion and a magnificent garden and it is believed that the palace was built for recreational pleasure seeking purpose of the royal family.
There used to be typical Rajasthani wooden boats that served as the medium to take visitors to the palace. But owing to some unavoidable reasons the palace is now restricted to only watching from the banks of the lake. The Chameli Bagh is the magnificent garden mentioned above and it is a treat to the eyes. Though you cannot actually enter the palace, the view from the banks is striking enough to make your heart flutter.
Spending time with your partner watching the exemplary palace standing quietly amidst the beautiful lake is something every couple must try. The lake is also home to many bird species and it is an unparallel sight to behold flocks of bird clustered on the water surface. You can also enjoy camel rides in the area and there are few local shopping stalls nearby.
For the foodies who desire to taste the local street food, there are small food stalls selling mouth-watering appetizers (you have to be responsible for the hygiene though). In all the Jal Mahal is a perfect attraction for a quick halt while traveling long distances from Jaipur to other surrounding areas.
By Nics10 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsAnjuna
By Dominik Hundhammer (User:Zerohund) (Image by myself) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia CommonsVagator and Chapora